The Foodie Group

Despite an almost disastrous connection in Bangkok, Mom and Dad finally made it to Vientiane.  I went to the airport to pick them up after my first dinner out with the Vientiane Foodie Group.  This group, which I joined on Facebook in August, meets every thursday for dinner at a preselected location.   Having not actually every been to one of the get togethers, Andy and I headed out and arrived at Lao Garden just in time.  The group was huge, over twenty people, and we had to drag more tables over to make room.  It was interesting to meet so many other young people and I enjoyed finding out what other people do here in Vientiane.  After about an hour and a half of waiting for our food, I got the yellow curry I ordered and it was fabulous, even better than Kung's (but almost three times the price).  Rushing to eat, I bid farewell to my new friends and headed to the airport.

The airport post ASEM looks so much different from when I arrived almost 3 months ago.  The road is paved, the parking lot has painted lines and there is even a little cafe in the arrivals terminal.  I was just on time and after walking through the Lao equivalent of customs, I greeted them on the other side.  

We took the cab back to the apartment, which mysteriously had no power since the afternoon.  Having already complained to security about it once and received a glass of beer and a candle in compensation, I decided there was nothing to do until the morning.  Bor pen nyang I guess.

Mom and Dad met Sok, acquainted themselves with the apartment by candlelight and headlamps and the two jet lagged travelers promptly passed out.  

BeerLao, a candle and a torch.  The Lao solution to no power.